Tray tier support



May 23, 1944. w. L. SNELLING 2,349,385

' TRAY TIER SUPPORT Filed Nov. 18, 1942 Patented May 23, 1944 TRAY TIERSUPPORT Walter L. Snelling, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Horders,Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 ApplicationNovember 18, 1942, Serial No. 466,044

9 Claims. (c1. 211 -126) This invention is concerned with a support fordesk trays that are to be built up into a tier.

The trays for which the present supports are designed are of the usualtype for use on desks, counters, cabinets, etc.-, adapted tocontainyarious papers which may be placed therein or'removed therefromfrom time to time. These trays, commonly made of wood, areoften'arranged in spaced relation one over another in tier formation,two high or more. To sustain the tier of trays various expedients havebeen worked out, most of them involving spring clips which assist inholding the associated supports in place, but none of them being whollysatisfactory. With a view to providing interconnecting supports whichare simple, inexpensive, easily fitted in place, and furnish a stableinseparable support for the various'trays comprised in the tier, thepresent improvements have been developed. A suggestive embodiment of myinvention is set forth in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line Il' of Fig. 3,showing a tier of three trays interconnected by the supports of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the four'elements, disassembled, =whichtogether make up one of the supports; and

Fig.3 is a horizontal sectional View, taken on line3+3 of Fig. 1.

The trays .of which three are in the tier shown in Fig. 1 may eachconsist of a bottom B from which rises a pair of ends E and a pair ofsides S (one only of the ends and sides being illustrated) and allinterconnected in any suitable way to render the structure rigid andsturdy. If desired afoot 5, of cork, felt or the like, may be afiixed tothe under face of the bottom, one adjacent each corner thereof. Forapplication of the supports presently to be described a set -'ofrelatively small holes 6 extend through the tray bottom; one slightlytothe outside of each'foot and slightly to the inside of the angleformed by the inner faces of a the sides and 'ends whereby opposite endsof the four holeswill be fully exposed on the upper and under faces ofthe bottom.

- To sustain one tray in spaced relation above another, a'set of foursupports are employed, one for each corner. Each support set (see Fig.2) consists of a post in the form of an angle plate affording walls land II in right angular relation betv'veen which are carried upper andlower -led'ges'lZ and |3,'r(-: spectively; a rod or bolt id having atits lower end a threaded socket ,l andat its upper'end a threadedstem Itor reduced diameter formingat its juncture with the bolt anannularshoulder H; a cap nut I8 havinga threaded socket 19 to receive the steml6, and formed atone end with a slot 20 forreception of a screw-driverblade; and a base screw comprising a slotted head 2| from which extendsa threaded shank 22 adapted to be .received cooperatively within thesocket l5 of the bolt. The bolt is also formed, by preference, with aplurality of radially extended teeth 23; four being illustrated, all ina common plane at a point lengthwise of the bolt'which is opposite anend and side of the tray (when assembled therewith) slightlybelow theirtop edges. The ends of the angled walls of the post may be curved,sloped, or otherwise formed to produce an effect pleasing to the eye,one suggestivedesign being indicated in Fig. 2.

To erect and sustain a tier of trays, the four supports are assembledtherewith in the mannershown for one corner thereof in Fig. 1. Here itwill be observed the angle post is placed over the outside corner of a,lower tray, the exterior face of the meeting end and side being engagedby the walls l0 and II. When thus fitted, the bolt is inserted throughthe tray, bottom hole 6 and two registering apertures or holes 25 and 26in the lower and upper ledges l3 and I2, respectively, the lower holebeing of a size tofreely receive the bolt, and the upper hole only thethreaded stem extending beyond the upper end thereof, and through thehole 6 in the bottom of a second tray to project upwardly therewithin.This second tray-finds support upon the top face of the upper ledge 12of the angle post which itself is supported at a fixed elevation byengagement of the bolt shoulderv ll with the under face of the sameledge. The lower ledge which desirably remains spaced from the top edgeof' the tray corner therebelow to accommodate itself to trayshavingwalls of nonuniform height, afiords' a bearing for the bolt whereby thepost as a whole is maintained in vertical alignment therewith and withthe ends and sides of the tray each ,ofwhich also. main-, tained invertical registerfwiththe wallsiofnthe other trays in the .same.tier'.'lfa thirdit ray is also to be added to the tier,'then another bolt withangle post threaded thereon "is' screw threadedendwise to the boltextendingjupwardly from the bottom tray, a support upontheupper ledge l2ofthesecond strutbeinglthe reby afforded for 'the third. tray; av n 'icompleted the build-up oftraysfor the tier,.,a..c'ap nut, such as theonedenoted as l8, is'applied over on the outside in cooperation with thebolt whose.

teeth are adapted to engage the tray corners on the inside. It may bethat the thickness of the tray walls do not always ,run uniform, or

that the holes 6 in the tray bottom-mayflnot always be located a,uniform distance from the tray walls, and to meet such contingencies thebolt teeth may, with slight effort, be fsunklinto the tray walls towhatever extent is necessary, to provide for each bolt a requisitebracing relative thereto. ,In one, rotative,,-,positiong of thebolt twoof .thefour teethextend directly toward the facing walls of the tray,and so tend to space the bolt further removed therefrom, than if thebolt be rotated to another position, say through 45, wherein the teethare disposed angularly to such walls, permitting the bolt then to occupya position closer to thetray corner. With the bolt, or two or moreinterconnectedboltslfitted inplace, as already described, the assemblyis completed by application of .thebolt endfittings whereby to clampthe. top and bottom trays (together with any trays intermediatelythereof) into unitary relation. The entire tierv of trays is then joinedimmovably and inseparably so as to be ready for sustained and activeuse. At any time that a tray (one or more) is, to be added to the tier,or subtracted therefrom, it is-necessary merel that the cap nuts beremoved for receiving the added supports and trays, or for taking awaythe supports and trays no longer needed, the operation being completedby again restoring the bolt end fittings to clamping positions withinthe topmost tray where they may then be reconnected with the upper endsof the several bolts (or interconnected bolts, as the case may be) I Thetray support hereindescribed is advantageous in that it makes for a firmand stable tier structure. It is also simple to apply and use, andaccommodates itself to non-uniform conditions such as differences intray heights, wall thicknesses, etc. The fittings at opposite ends ofthe rods or bolts are so small as not to mar the wood or to interferewith the tray contents, and if desired may be formed to occupy positionswithin counter-sunk openings wherein they will lie flush with theadjacent faces of the trays. The post walls extend endwise beyond thetwo ledges, thereby assuring engagement with the tray corners for a.sufficient distance to afford stability to the tier structure as awhole.

I claim:

1. For use with a tier of like desk trays having vertical walls,fourcorner supports each comprising an angle post'engageablefiatwisewith exterior faces of two adjacent walls, of an upper and lowertray'for maintaining one in vertical register with the other, therebeing through each tray bottom a corner hole adjacent the inner faces ofthe tray walls aforesaid, a pair of spaced ledges carried by the anglepost at points spaced from the ends thereof, between two trays, one ofthe ledges affording 'supportfor the bottom of the tray thereabove and.both of the t ledges being This end is attained formed therethrough withholes in register with each other and with the holes in the traycorners, and means for securing the post in a fixed position exteriorlyof the registerin corners of the superposed trays comprising a boltextending vertically through the holes thereof and of the post ledgesand provided near its upper end with means in engagement with the ledgethereabove, and bolt end fittings atopposite ends of the bolt adjustablerelatively toward and from each other and engageable with opposite facesof the tray bottoms to exert a clamping force thereon whereby-tointerconnect the trays with the supporting post therebetween as animmovable unit.

2. For use with a tier of like desk trays having vertical walls, fourcorner supports each comprising an angle post engageable flatwise withexterior faces of two. adjacent walls of an upper and lower tray formaintaining one in vertical register with the'othen'there being througheach tray bottom a corner-hole adjacent' thein'ner' faces of the traywalls aforesaid,' a,pair of spaced, ledges carried by the angle postspaced from the ends thereof at points between two trays, one of theledges affording support for the bottom of .the tray-thereabovaand meansfor securing the post in a fixed position exteriorly of the registeringcorners of the superposed trays comprising a bolt extending verticallythrough the holes in thebottom of the tray, and means on theledges'connected with the bolt and provided near its upper end withsupporting means in engagement with the ledge thereabove, and means atopposite ends of the'bolt adjustable relativelyx toward and from eachother and engageable withthe trays to exert a, clamping force thereonwhereby to interconnect the trays withthe supporting post there betweenas an immovable unit. 7' v i 3; For use with a tier of like desk trayshaving vertical walls-four corner's'upports each comprising anangle-post engageable exteriorlywith corners'of' upper'and lower trays,there being through each tray bottom a cornerhole adjacent the innerfaces of the comer, a pair of spaced ledges carried by the angle'post atpoints spaced from, the ends. thereof. between two trays,'-one of theledges affording" support for-the tray thereabove when rested thereuponand both of the ledges being formed thereth'rough with holes in register.with each other and with the holes in-the"tray corners, a. boltextended verticallythrough the ledge holes .andintmengagement with theproximate face of the "bottom ofthe tray'therebelow, and having near itstop means engageable with thetunder face" of the upper ledge whereby tovserve as a spacer betweenthe two trays, and .screw meansengageable'wi'th the remote faces of the tray bottoms and removablyv andadjustably, connected to' opposite ends of the bolt adapted to exertupon thetrays a clamping force whereby to interconnect-the trays immov;ably as aunit. s 1 4. Incombination with a; pair ofilikel'supen-j posedtrays, corner supp ts betWeen'-the-myS eachcomprising. a bolt extendedbetween; the bottoms thereof to space one from the other. a fixeddistance, a post extending from one tray to the other on the outside ofthe bolt having means adjacent opposite ends for engagement with anexterior corner of each tray, means connecting, with the bolt-ends in;engagement with the bottoms o f the trays; adapted to preventseparation; of one tray from the other, spaced means e tmqi eiewalv-irQm the ost at points s ce .r. rei t e,seas, ther fea ume ns a eviding a sliding interlock between the spaced means and the bolt atpoints between the trays, one of said spaced means engaging also withthe upper tray to aiford a sustaining support therefor.

5. In combination with a pair of like superposed trays having bottomsand connected walls forming corners, supports between the trays eachcomprising an angle post extended from one tray to the other and inengagement with an exterior corner of each tray, a bolt extendedvertically between the trays close to the inside corners thereof andconnected to each to prevent separation thereof, spaced meansinterconnecting the post and bolt at points between the two trays, andmeans extended outwardly from the bolt for engagement with inner facesof the tray walls to maintain the bolt in spaced relation thereto.

6. In combination with a pair of like superposed trays having bottomsand connected walls forming corners, supports between the trays eachcomprising an angle post extended from one tray to the other and inengagement with an exterior corner of each tray, a bolt extendedvertically between the trays close to the inside corners thereof andconnected to each to prevent separation thereof, and spaced meansinterconnecting the post and bolt at points between the two trays.

7. In combination with a pair of like superposed trays having bottomsand connected walls forming corners, supports between the trays eachcomprising an angle post extended from one tray to the other and inengagement with an exterior corner of each tray, a bolt extendedvertically between the trays close to the inside comers thereof andconnected to each to prevent separation thereof, spaced meansinterconnecting the post and bolt at points between the two trays, andspaced means extended outwardly from the bolt for engagement with innerfaces of the tray walls at points varying in distance from the bolt axisaccording to the rotative position of the bolt, whereby to maintain thebolt in adjustable spaced relation to the proximate tray corner.

8. For use with a tier of like desk trays having vertical walls, fourcorner supports each comprising an angle post engageable exteriorly withcorners of upper and lower trays, there being through each tray bottom acorner hole adjacent the inner face of the corner, spaced means havingapertures and extending transversely of the angle post to the insidethereof at points spaced from the ends of the posts, the upper of saidmeans afiording support for the upper tray when rested thereon, andmeans for locking the post in a fixed position of engagement with thecorners of registering upper and lower trays comprising a bolt extendingvertically through the holes thereof and in looking engagement with theapertures of said spaced means inwardly of the angle post and abuttingthe underside of the upper of said spaced means.

9. In combination with a pair of like superposed trays, corner supportsbetween the trays each comprising a post extending from one tray to theother and having means adjacent opposite ends for engagement with anexterior corner of each tray, spaced ledges between the trays extendinginwardly from the post at points spaced from the ends thereof, one ofthe ledges engaging with the upper tray to afiord a sustaining supporttherefor, and a bolt located interiorly of the corner post and extendingfrom the lower tray to th upper tray and abutting the upper ledge andthe bottom of the lower tray, said ledges having means slidablyreceiving the bolt and connecting them to the same, and means connectingopposite ends of the bolt to the proximate trays to unite the tier oftrays immovably.

WALTER L. SNELLING.

